New Details On Joss Whedon's In Your Eyes, Plus Lead Announcements

Just last month actress Abigail Spencer (Cowboys & Aliens) leaked news that Joss Whedon—under the banner of his newly minted micro-studio Bellwether—was shooting his "metaphysical romance" In Your Eyes as early as February. Spencer said she had been cast in the film, and with so few details, it seemed she was set to star. However, Deadline now reveals In Your Eyes's real leads, along with some curious new plot details.

Turns out Michael Stahl-David and Zoe Kazan have signed to star as In Your Eyes' cryptically connected lovers. Stahl-David will play Dylan, a young man with a boyish charm who has recently been released from an extended prison sentence issued for refusing to snitch on his accomplices. For her part, Kazan will portray Rebecca, a gawky young woman whose husband is an affluent and older doctor. These are people separated not only by class differences but also by geographical distance, for Dylan lives in a mobile home in New Mexico, and Rebecca resides in a lovely home in Connecticut. Yet these two strangers hear from and see each other often, as they share an extraordinary bond that allows them to communicate seemingly telepathically. From here, their unconventional love story evolves.

Despite being the granddaughter of Hollywood legend Elia Kazan, Zoe Kazan has been steadily building her reputation as a solid performer within the arena of indie films like The Exploding Girl, Happythankyoumoreplease and Meek's Cutoff. She's a grounded and intriguing performer, and seems well suited to take on any genre thrown before her, so I'm sure she'll be stellar here. As to Stahl-David, whose most memorable movie role to date was as the ever-pining Rob in Colverfield, I'm admittedly less familiar with his work, but find that Whedon has shown a keen talent for casting, that usually results in couples with a fiery onscreen chemistry. Of course, In Your Eyes, which was penned by Whedon, is actually being directed by Ball Don't Lie helmer Brin Hill. Still, with Whedon producing alongside his wife, Bellwether co-founder, and long-time collaborator Kai Cole, I'm confident the casting will still have a heavy Whedon influence.